Some 350 scientists, academic and civic leaders celebrated the research contributions of Dr. Robert G. Bergman, University of California, Berkeley, at the Welch Award in Chemistry dinner Monday (Oct. 27) at the Hilton Houston Post Oak. A pioneer in organometallic chemistry, Bergman discovered how to break the carbon-hydrogen bond, leading to advances in drug development and greener energy.

Beth Robertson, chair, The Welch Foundation, highlighted the more than $800 million the foundation has invested in basic chemical research in Texas over the 60 years since its creation. Scientific luminaries attending included Nobel laureates Ahmed Zewail, Robert Curl and Yuan Lee and National Medal of Science recipients Paul Chu and Peter Dervan.

The Houston-based Welch Foundation is one of the nation’s oldest and largest source of private funding for basic research in chemistry.